About Academic Service Learning

Consistent with the mission and strategic plan of the University of New Haven, the purpose of Academic Service-Learning is to foster social responsibility and promote community engagement. We provide opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to work in partnership with the Greater New Haven Region and beyond for the purpose of exchanging knowledge and resources to strengthen our global society.

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What We Do

Our office supports students, faculty, and staff at the University and works in partnership with the Greater New Haven Region. The Academic Service-Learning Office creates and disseminates resources to benefit faculty, students, staff, and community partners.

Improves campus-community awareness of Academic Service-Learning.

Cultivates the partnership between UNH and CT Campus Compact by serving as the UNH representative at statewide meetings and serves on its strategic planning committee.

Collects and maintains information on service-learning courses and community partnerships.

Conducts site visits to ensure partnerships are based on mutuality and reciprocity.

Partnerships between the University and the community partner are based on mutuality and reciprocity. Both the student and the community should equally benefit from the service activity.

The service activity meets an actual need in the community.

Critical reflection is thoroughly integrated with academic learning. Reflection helps students to link their service experience to course content and to reflect upon why the service is important.

Connects students with the Greater New Haven Region and contribute to their interest in and understanding of community.

Supports faculty in the development of service-learning courses that include preparation, reflection, and evaluation.

Encourages and values student voice and leadership.

Welcomes the community partner as co-educator.

Mission

The goal of the Service-Learning Office is to assist students in developing into socially responsible and active citizens and to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives. The Service-Learning Office provides the framework for students to become socially responsible through the following civic learning objectives:

Leadership - students will apply their leadership with or without a formal position

Understand that leadership is a process

Develop skills that facilitate the sharing of the leadership roles

Work with others to develop a shared vision and agenda on community issues

Understand the importance of accountability and hold themselves and others accountable for their actions

Social Responsibility - students will identify as a member of the community and will take action to address public problems and issues

Act ethically by applying and creating knowledge for the betterment of society

Recognize their responsibility to others; locally and globally

Integrate values and beliefs with career decisions

Cognitive Examination - students will apply their academic knowledge and personal experience to address public problems and issues